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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

I think this is the end for my dog

31 replies

StuntNun · 13/04/2015 15:36

She is two weeks shy of 13 years old and today her walking is so bad that she can barely get in and out of the house. She has had chronic arthritis for years and several leg injuries of varying severity so the fact she's still going is nothing short of miraculous. How do you cope with having a dog put down when they aren't ill as such?

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MitchellMummy · 13/04/2015 16:33

I feel for you as I have the same situation. Mine is on lots of painkillers and Yumove. He goes to hydrotherapy twice weekly. I help him up and down stairs and on to our bed at night. I lift him out of the car (and have a ramp to get him in). Can yours go to the toilet without you holding her up? I would / will find it hard too, but all the time mine is eating, drinking, enjoying cuddles and swimming then I think he's OK. He gets a bit snappy when he's in pain so we do know. Is your girlie on painkillers?

laundryelf · 13/04/2015 17:13

So sorry you are going through this, when her quality of life is such that she cannot move about without pain then its better to let them go. I had to take that decision today with a much loved 5 year old lab with advanced cancer, outwardly looking okay but starting to breathe heavily and off food, limping slightly on walk so these were the signs that the cancer was progressing further. We wanted to do it before he was in lots of pain, many people said to us better to go while he's happy. It was very hard to do but vets were very kind and totally supported our decision.
So you have to look at your dog and decide for yourself, some signs of pain in dogs include panting more often, licking lips, lying down rather than sitting due to pain and some others I can't remember right now but ask your vets advice. Flowers

Original poster
StuntNun · 13/04/2015 20:04

She seems cheerful tonight but it hit home about letting her go when she's happy. She has been on Metacam for five years for her ruptured Achilles' tendon, she has had painkillers from time to time but they don't seem to do anything for her. It's going to break my heart when the time comes but telling the children is going to be the worst. She has been for around their whole lives. At least she has had a long and happy life despite her injuries. Losing a dog at just 5 really doesn't seem fair.

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LokiBuddyBoo1 · 14/04/2015 07:36

I know it's hard to decide when the right time is to PTS, but I think better a week early than a day late, if she's in pain and it can't be managed with medication then it's time.
You can get the vet to come to your house to pts so she's not distressed and she's somewhere familiar surrounded by those she loves.
Sorry your having to go through this it's not an easy decision to make.

EasyToEatTiger · 14/04/2015 16:13

We have an oldie who is in the same kind of predicament. She's being held up by cartrophen injections to help with the pain of arthritis. She still enjoys her food and bimbling about in the garden. It's so hard. We are keeping in close touch with the vet to monitor disintegration, and hopefully will notice if something drastic happens.

Original poster
StuntNun · 14/04/2015 17:31

I have phoned the vet to discuss our options. There's a call out fee of £60 extra for the vet to come here to do it but I think that would be worthwhile to avoid the stress of the vet waiting room for her.

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hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 14/04/2015 17:42

It's an awful decision to have to take, we took it last year for our elderly Lab. Our vet was marvellous, they gave us an appointment and took us straight through when we arrived despite us getting there early. In hindsight we might've been a day or two too early but I too, would rather it was a bit too early than a day too late.

TheHappinessTrap · 14/04/2015 18:35

This thread, and ones like it, beings a tear to my eye. our 8 year old suffers with bad arthritis. When the time comes I know I will be heartbroken. I would much rather find her having passed happily in the garden or some such. My heart goes out to you.

Original poster
StuntNun · 14/04/2015 20:03

Actually the receptionist did say we could book it for a quiet time so that would be another option. I mentioned it to DH and he said I was being a bit premature. Well she's happy enough today but it does no harm to be prepared. We're looking at weeks at the most I would say. I think I would take her more happily if it was just the two of us but the kids are going to be heartbroken.

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Rascalls3 · 14/04/2015 21:29

Exactly the same situation here with our 13 year old Lab. Walking is getting a lot worse each week. He seems very happy in himself and eating well ( would be very worried if he wasn't!!! ) His mobility is just so poor. Only very short strolls on grass or the garden. Very hard decision to make. But assume we just have a matter of weeks left with him. Very sad.

EasyToEatTiger · 15/04/2015 20:09

We called the vet to our house for one of our dogs. I could not have driven home with a dead dog in the car without crashing. Every loss is different. It's a bit like giving birth in that you just don't know how it's going to hit you. Big MN hugs(((((())))))))

honeyroar · 16/04/2015 10:58

It's horrible. The worst thing to have to do. We've always had our pets put down at home too. They're all buried at the end of the garden. I always think it's better a day too early than a day too late, but that's easy to say when it's not your own beloved dog.xx

Can I ask you what supplements you all use for arthiritis? My six year old lab is starting to suffer a bit. Water seemed to start it off last year, so we have kept him out of water, but now it is happening after walks. The problem is he is still very puppy like and lives to chase/retrieve. It's going to be very difficult to get him to slow down. (Sorry for gate crashing your thread). Perhaps I should start a new one.

Original poster
StuntNun · 16/04/2015 11:10

Honey my dog has been on Metacam for five or six years with good results. We've tried painkillers a couple of times but they didn't do anything for her over and above the anti-inflammatories. She also has a leg brace from Orthopets Europe after an Achilles' tendon injury.

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honeyroar · 16/04/2015 11:11

Thank you. Is that prescribed or over the counter?

How's she doing today?

Original poster
StuntNun · 16/04/2015 11:36

It's prescribed and a six week supply for a 30kg dog costs about £55. If you're dog is going to be on it long term it would be a lot cheaper to get your vet to write a prescription (you have to pay for it) and buy online.

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Original poster
StuntNun · 16/04/2015 11:37

Tara is the same today as the last two days, she seems happy enough but both back hocks are collapsed on to the ground now so walking is very awkward. I think it's time but DH isn't ready yet. She has been declining slowly for years now so I don't think there's any rush but I think it would be best to have her PTS before there's any further decline.

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TrinityRhino · 16/04/2015 11:43

Sad sorry to hear this.

We asked the vet to come to the house when it was time for Dps dog.
We couldn't get her to come back into the house. She just kept taking herself off under the trampoline at the bottom of the garden.
It was evident she was taking herself off to dieSad

I lay under the trampoline reading to her till the vet came.
I held her head as she passed.
Dp and I dug her grave together and we wrapped her in my favourite blanket.
She has a large slab of sandstone with little stones around it to mark her grave. In the summer the kids draw flowers on it in chalk.

honeyroar · 16/04/2015 14:49

Sad. Oh dear Stuntnun.

Could you persuade OH to agree to the vet coming to your house to assess with a view to PTS? If the vet said it he may face up to it more.

KatharineClifton · 16/04/2015 20:34

It is so much better to do it at home. For the dog and you. I'd never do it at the vets again, ever.

I'm so sorry you are losing your girl.

TrinityRhino · 18/04/2015 09:26

Hey Stuntman. How are you and your doggy?

Original poster
StuntNun · 18/04/2015 10:10

DH isn't on board and thinks I'm acting too soon. She ate her breakfast sitting down this morning.

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TrinityRhino · 18/04/2015 10:45

Big hugs stunt.
She's eating which is good. Do you think she still has some quality of life? maybe it's a little soon.

Follyfoot · 18/04/2015 10:56

Its so tough isnt it, but it does sound that her quality of life is decreasing Sad Suspect your husband just cant face losing her, which is understandable but might not be the best for your lovely girl. I dont know whether it will help or hinder, but we kept our beloved lab longer than we should have done and I still feel so guilty 3 years on.

When the time came, we took her to the vet and he injected her whilst she was snuggled up with her 'Dad' in the car. It was perfect for her as she always associated being in the car with going somewhere lovely for a special walk. Its nice to think that might have been her last thought.

TrinityRhino · 19/04/2015 20:03

chucking a hug your way Smile

Original poster
StuntNun · 19/04/2015 21:41

Thanks for the support everyone, it means a lot to me. I still haven't talked DH round but his sister is visiting on Tuesday so I'll ask her what she thinks of the dog's mobility.

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